Read Before You Add A Mini Pig To Your Family

A "must read" if you are thinking of getting a pig!!

Every single day someone is "rehoming" their pig because they lost interest, don't have time, getting divorced or married or having a baby or they weren't zoned to have one to begin with. This is a post by someone who has cleaned up the after effects of someone who got a pig and probably should have researched more. It is raw emotions, I didn't edit one single word of this. Remember, most animal control centers are NOT well versed in caring for a pig, most actually have no idea how to care for one, but ALL of the rescues are bursting at the seams and can't take in any additional pigs. Please remember this when you bring a pig into your family. There is no where for them to go if you decide you no longer want your pig. This may all sound extremely harsh, and may be it is, but this is coming straight from a person who deals with emails and phone calls day after day asking if she will take their unwanted pig. That has to weigh heavy on the heart. (Posted with permission) Come "like" our Facebook page to see more educational information regarding the care of pet pigs. https://www.facebook.com/minipiginfo and don't forget to check out the rescue and sanctuary list to see how you can help by clicking here.

I don't usually go on a rant but can someone tell me, please, when will people begin to start taking responsibility for their actions? Every day there are more dumped (NO OTHER WORD APPLIES) pigs needing homes...threatened with being sent to shelters, slaughter, euthanasia, released in the woods, advertised free on Craigslist, etc...Some of these pigs are even only a couple of months old but the excuses are always the same...Only rarely are we asked to help someone with a legitimate need.

MOVING....really? You had no idea when you got the pig a month or two ago that you'd be moving soon or evicted for getting caught with it??? But, you'll move the dog and cat and abandon the pig. Why is that??

YOU'RE NOT ZONED...really?? So why did you not do your due diligence and check that out BEFORE getting that pig? It's not at all difficult. Can you dial a phone?

DON'T HAVE TIME FOR IT...really?? But the sanctuaries you expect to bail you out do? Most of us work full time to support the pigs we take in. Most of us are private and do not receive funding or grants to defray expenses. What makes you think we have more time to give your pig love and attention that you "can't". We work full time and then take on the full time job at home of caring for these pigs before and after our "regular" jobs. We're all pretty strapped for cuddle time with your little buddy that you "LOVE SO MUCH" but we're saving because you're dumping.

IT GOT TOO BIG...really?? You'd have to be some kind of STUPID to believe the lies of the breeders that a PIG will be 30 pounds as an adult. More than enough FACTUAL information is available that anyone with one iota of common sense won't fall for the insanity of "teacup/micro" pigs. Why did you not bother to do your research?

IT HAS BEHAVIORAL ISSUES...really?? News flash...if you're not willing to put in the time to properly train your pig you ...SHOULDN'T GET ONE!

OH...IT'S NOT SPAYED OR NEUTERED??...really?? That leads to behavioral issues...oh, but you can't afford to have it done. We can?? We're already paying vet bills on many pigs, not just one. It is your responsibility to provide the needed vet care for your pig, which includes spaying and neutering.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE A VET...really?? Acquiring an animal 101...you need to find a vet FIRST. Don't wait until something is wrong and then, in a panic, post for help online. You'll get all KINDS of responses from the utterly useless and ridiculous to downright dangerous...and a few that are actually helpful or at least won't cause harm. Are you able to sort them out? That's what a VET is for. We can try to help but you absolutely need to have a vet.

IT'S DESTRUCTIVE...really?? A bored pig IS destructive. They need to be outside doing what pigs do, rooting in the dirt, wallowing, grazing, exploring.

BUT YOU HAVE NO YARD...really?? Then you shouldn't have a pig! You cannot expect a pig to live in an apartment day in and day out, maybe confined to a crate or bathroom, and not become bored and start to find the wrong kinds of things to do. Oh...and many full time indoor pigs also develop leg and foot problems because they're living on an unnatural surface.

YOU CAN'T KEEP IT CONTAINED...really?? Pigs require a GOOD fence to keep them home...an even better fence if they're not spayed or neutered. If you cannot/will not do what you need to do to contain it and keep it safe you have no business owning one. And a good fence is NOT a chain link dog kennel.

YOU'RE HAVING A BABY...really?? So that means you are saying you're incapable of fulfilling your responsibility to your pets?. Please don't have a second child. If you cannot handle a baby and a pet pig, you cannot manage a second child.

YOUR KID CAME HOME WITH IT/BOYFRIEND GAVE IT AS A GIFT...really?? And you don't approve. That's OK and the solution is simple. You pack that kid's a** in the car and take the pig BACK TO THE BREEDER and get the $$$ back. Better teach the kid UP FRONT that acquiring an animal isn't done on a whim than to teach the kid later that it's OK to dump that same animal when interest wanes or said kid goes on to college and you don't want the responsibility. Oh, but YOU bought it, that's different....then you do what's right and set a good example by keeping it for its entire natural LIFE! BTW...expect 12-15 years on average, even up to 20. Can't make that commitment? Then don't get the pig.

And last but not least...YOU WANT HELP WITH YOUR PIG and expert, experienced help/advice is offered, but it is not what YOU want to hear, so excuses are made, you get angry, and keep searching for someone to say what you want to hear, rather than what will actually resolve the problem. Suck it up and listen to the people who have dealt with these issues for a decade or two or three. If in fact you "love" the pig as you say, drop the ego and do what's right by the life you chose to bring into your home.

A Pig Rescue Writes An Open Letter To Potential Pig Parents

An open letter to anyone thinking of getting a pig

So You Want a Pet Pig?Here is an open letter to all who are considering getting a pet pig. It was written by Sherry Burnett from January 17, 2015 and added to the website with her permission. Sherry runs Ruby Ranch Pig Sanctuary in Canada.Thank you Sherry for a heartfelt and well said letter. Now, if only people will listen!​Click here to read what it is like to have a pig as a pet.

An open letter to anyone who is considering a pig for a pet.In the last week alone, I have gotten 4 emails/messages from people wanting me to take their pig. My friend is picking up another one today that someone was going to surrender to the Humane Society, other friends worked so hard to save on from the same fate, only to have the person flake at the last second and stop responding to their texts. Other friends are furiously trying to make space for the onslaught of surrendered pigs. On average, I get about one request a week. That's just me, one sanctuary. There are 4 or 5 other local sanctuaries who get several weekly too. We can't keep up. What on earth is going to happen to all these pigs? No one, regardless of time or money, can keep up.

Please, if you are thinking of getting a pig, commit to their lifetime. If you get a baby, you are looking at 15-20 years caring for that pig. If you're nearing retirement age, are you going to want to travel? Because it's hard to find a pig-sitter. Pigs bond very strongly to their families, and don't take well to a stranger suddenly telling them what to do. No one knows what changes the future might bring, so be prepared to keep that pig against all odds. Because the odds are stacked against that pig ending up in a good, forever home.

Because they bond so strongly, re-homing is a huge stress for them. They truly grieve for their lost families, some of them for weeks, Refusing to eat or even get up, they will point their nose in a corner or lie at the gate, waiting for their people to come and get them.

A lot of people think their pig needs to be in a herd, and a sanctuary would be an ideal situation for them. Well, let me tell you this. Many pigs that come here from a single pig home, who have only known living in a house, DON'T do well at first, some of them take YEARS to fit in. Some never do. The other pigs pick on them, and they have no frame of reference as to how to deal with these other pigs. No matter the love and patience they get at a sanctuary, it can never equal what they got in your home. There are always many others who need attention. Even if they just move on to another home situation, it's hard on them. So many pigs are bounced from home to home, and with each bounce, they become less trusting, more apt to have behavioral problems that will likely just see them bounced again, unless they end up with someone with pig experience.

This group is to let people know that pigs grow up, they will not fit in a teacup for long, no matter what that breeder is trying to tell you. But there are many, many other things that you need to consider too, besides size.

A pig is not like a dog, he won't seamlessly adjust to living with you. Some of them act like they couldn't care less about you. (Those are often the ones who grieve the most when they are given up by the way) A pig may be the sweetest friend ever, to you and maybe your family members, but visitors are not welcome, and will be challenged.

Another big reason people give up their pigs is because they are moving, and it's almost impossible (almost!) to find a place to rent that allows pigs. You have to find a compassionate landlord, and then make sure the city/town you are moving to allows pigs.

People give up their pigs because they have conflicts with other pets. Some dogs just never accept the pig, and the pig will challenge the dog. Most pigs will want to be at the top of the hierarchy, and see the dog as a challenge to that. In all cases where the dog is bigger than the pig, the pig will lose the fight, sometimes with catastrophic results. Many small or compromised health dogs will be on the losing end, also with horrifying results.

Not enough time to spend with them is another big reason people give them up. An indoor pig has only you to entertain them. You are their world, and if you are going to be gone 12 hours a day, they will get anxious, and they will get into things. They'll tip over your garbage cans, they'll rip up your carpets, root holes in your drywall. They need you, or a pig companion. Or a pen outside where they can do pig stuff.

A lot of pigs end up homeless because of conflict with children. If you have small kids, or may have kids in the near future, they need to be taught how to deal with a pig, or they will be dominated.

People having an un-altered pig often leads to re-homing. A male has one thing on his mind, and for a week out of every month, so does a female. It makes them frantic, and males will have a strong musk, and their pee smells like a jungle beast. Please spay or neuter.

Please don't go into this decision lightly. Don't just visit a breeder's facility, visit a sanctuary, or someone you know who already has a pig. You won't learn anything about their behavior by seeing a litter of piglets, you need to see the adults, and not the pigs that the breeder is claiming are adults, because those pigs are almost never fully grown. They'll grow for the first 4 years of their life, and if the breeder is telling you the parents ARE 4 years or older, ask for proof.

Are there pigs that stay small? Small is relative. The smallest I have seen fully grown is 40 pounds. That is so rare. Count on anywhere from 80- 180. Breeders are definitely trying to breed smaller pigs, but that is often by breeding runt to runt, which causes many health problems in the babies. Even a 40 or 60 pound pig is not like having the equivalent sized dog. Pigs are strong, with dense bodies, and you can't just pick them up and move them, it's like trying to pick up a baby tiger. A 40 pound animal with an attitude is a handful. They can be skittish, territorial, destructive, but you are the center of their universe.

Please, please think long and hard before getting a pig. Unless you live in an apartment, then don't think about it at all.​Thanks for reading.

An article from a veterinarian conference about mini pigs

At the 2016 Atlantic Coast Veterinary Conference, Dr. Matthew Edson, owner of Rancocas Veterinary Hospital, spoke to interested veterinarians and veterinary technicians about the challenges and rewards of having miniature pig patients. Many miniature pigs don’t receive veterinary care because there are so few practices that treat them. Due to limited veterinary resources, many owners get their medical information from an array of breeders and online self-proclaimed “pig experts.” Although a definitive textbook or veterinary resource is lacking, Dr. Edson recommends two essential and inexpensive books: Veterinary Management of Miniature Pigs by Lisle George DVM, PhD (University of California at Davis), and The Potbellied Pig Parent by Nancy Shepherd. The latter is also a good owner resource. He indicated that a portion of the proceeds for both books goes towards pig rescue organizations.According to Dr. Edson, there are no real distinct breeds of miniature pig. Many people seek out a “micro mini pig” in hopes that their new pet will remain small. However, basically Vietnamese pot-belled, micro, mini, and juliana pigs are interchangeable. Supposedly originating in Vietnam and Thailand in the 1960s, mini pigs were developed as a food source, not a pet. They were imported into Canada in the 1980s as zoo specimens and became a “fad” pet in the United States during the nineties. Dr. Edson believes they are now becoming more popular again. The pet pigs in Dr. Edson’s practice range in weight from 30 to 350 pounds.Where do people get miniature pigs? Some are adopted from other owners that can no longer care for them. The largest percentage are obtained from breeders that will ship the piglet directly to the home. Around 20% are impulse purchases from livestock auctions where poor conditions and minimal care has led to health problems. A person interested in purchasing a piglet from a breeder can expect to pay around $1200 plus shipping fees. Even though most breeders offer “health guarantees," Dr. Edson has found them to be ineffective and unenforceable. Large breeding operations concentrated in Texas and California dominate the market. In Dr. Edison’s opinion, the best place to acquire a new pet pig is via a pig rescue and he suggested Pet Placement Network as an excellent resource that pet owners can utilize.Dr. Edson reminded the audience about the following things that he felt everyone should know about mini pigs:

Behavior: In Dr. Edson’s experience, pigs generally do want they want to do when they want to do it. Even though they are known for their stubbornness, they are usually very food-oriented and can be incentivized to learn basic commands, such as “sit,” fairly easily. Pigs like to “nest” and will “root." If they are largely indoor pigs, pet owners shouldn't be surprised to see damage to furniture, carpet, and even walls. They need time outside to explore and root.

Basic training: Most pigs will learn to walk on a leash. Owners should start teaching them to tolerate a harness when they are young. If a pig ever gets out of an enclosure or a house, it is very difficult to catch them without some kind of restraint aid attached to its body. Collars are ineffective in animals with such large necks. Some smaller pigs can be fitted with a dog harness, but specific pig harnesses are readily available.

Elimination: Pigs can be litter trained pretty easily because they naturally eliminate in one chosen area. Some people have converted entire linen closets to litter boxes for larger pigs.

Housing: Pigs are fine being housed outside. Fencing has to be made of hog paneling (welded pig wire) and needs to extend below ground or they will get out of their enclosure. Pet owners should have shady spots where they can get out of the sun during the summer. In the winter, they can easily become hypothermic if forced to be on the cold ground. Owners should provide them with a raised platform and appropriate bedding material.

Nutrition: Obesity is a common problem. Pigs have been selectively bred over a long time to put on weight with minimal intake. Feeding dog food to a mini pig is a terrible idea; feeding the pig commercial hog grower feed easily purchased at the feed store isn’t good either because that food is formulated for maximum growth and weight gain. Instead, Dr. Edson recommends three brands of mini-pig food: Mazuri, Lil Red, and Ross Mill Farms. Some brands have different formulations for life stages, but in his experience, they do well at all ages on the adult diet. However, even when pet owners have the right food, watching calories is important. Small juvenile pigs should get 0.5 to 1 cup BID, larger adults (60-100 lbs.) should get 1 to 1.5 cups BID.

Treats: Pigs love treats and most will beg or complain for more. Give a reasonable number of treats and cut back if the pig is gaining too much weight. Cheerios are a great treat but should be limited to <10/day.

No to children, dogs, and horses: Although some pigs are fine with children, all pigs can bite, and when they do, they can take a piece of finger off pretty easily. There are more ideal pets out there for a youngster. Lots of pigs get along with dogs, but Dr. Edson doesn’t recommend they be housed together. He’s seen dogs suddenly injure pigs they’ve tolerated without incident for years. In addition, mini pigs should not be placed with horses. For some reason, many horses aren’t comfortable around pigs and will try to stomp them.

Hooves: If a pig is not regularly walking on hard surfaces such as concrete, expect that their hooves will need to be trimmed every few months.

Tusks: Males have tusks and they too need to be trimmed at about 1 year of age and every year or two afterwards.

Identification: Pigs can and should be microchipped behind the left ear.

Adult size: Despite all the assurances received at purchase, it’s difficult to examine a piglet and estimate its future adult size. Disreputable breeders add to the issue by selling 4-month-old piglets that are really 4-weeks-old. Some grow up to be 30 lbs. and some grow to 300 lbs; a 300 pound pig, is a lot of pig.

Food animal restrictions: Pet or not, a pig falls under the classification of "food animals" and is subject to the same drug use restrictions and regulations as a farm pig destined for the slaughterhouse. Veterinarians interested in treating pet pigs can familiarize themselves with the Animal Medicinal Use Clarification Act (AMDUCA) regulations and the AVMA Extralabel Drug Use site. If looking for information on determining forbidden substances and withdrawal time for acceptable substances, visit the food animal Residence Avoidance Databank, which also has a free iPhone app (vetGRAM) that can provide needed information when away from a computer.

What happens to too many piglets after they become adults? Some stay in their wonderful “forever” homes, but many end up homeless or in sanctuaries. According to Dr. Edson, there are a few main reasons pigs are abandoned. One is legal—people are not aware of zoning laws prohibiting farm animals nor did they consider how much their neighbors might object to their new family member. Another is size – as these animals grow, they are more difficult to care for. The third is personality – Dr. Edson compared owning a pig to having a permanent toddler in your life. He described them as stubborn, smart, sweet, and (repeat) stubborn.His advises any colleague that has a client thinking of getting a pig, that they at least know what they are getting into before they get that cute little Ms. or Mr. Piggy.

Dr. Edson is a rockstar! I love the way he presented the information to the conference attendees and just recently, he let us know that his NJ practice now has the capabilities of boarding pigs! (He was added to our pig sitter/pig boarding page)

Snout Art from Buttercup the pig

As a pig parent, I was guilty of glamorizing having a pig as a pet. I didn't post the horror stories, only the cute things my sweet pig did. I didn't tell people that she started squealing at 5 am, then 4 am, finally 3 am to eat breakfast before I figured out that I needed to correct this type of behavior. I didn't post about the trash cans she knocked over and the ketchup stains on the white carpet. I also didn't post about her biting anyone who came into the room. I did post when she snuggled up to me all while being sure someone was able to get a picture of it that was post worthy. I also posted pictures of the bike ride when she looked so cute riding in the bike cart. I did not post how awful it was to get her in there. If you think having a pig is all fun and cuddle time, you are wrong. People post about the life they want you to see, myself included. Life doesn't always work out the way we want it to, and that sucks, but it is what it is. Pigs are not ideal pets for everyone because they are so time consuming. They require attention, love, and training. Pigs train their human parents way before people start training their pet pigs. But please don't think that your pig is the odd ball because he or she doesn't want to lay down and snuggle with you. Most pigs don't want to lay with their humans. People will show you snippets of their life with a pig, but not usually all of it. I learned to share the good, bad and ugly when someone from the pig rescue world told me that I was one of the reasons why there were so many unwanted pigs. (not quite so harshly stated, but the point was well received) People oohing and ahhing over the super cute pictures I was posting and making comments like "OMG, I want one" or "They are so cute, I plan to get one too". Little did they know all the ins and outs. Once that person reached out to me (because I posted a lot) and let me know how those messages were likely being perceived, I thought about it, and they were absolutely 100% correct. I still see comments from people new to pig world that ask, Why won't my pig lay with me, everyone's pigs lounge around with their mama or daddy and my pig doesn't want anything to do with me. I make the same general comment each time....your pig is being a pig. When your pig wants to lay down, it will, if that happens to be in the same area you're in, you may be able to get exactly 8 seconds to capture this iconic picture you want. Then your pig will get up and search for more food. It's the same thing the rest of our pigs do. When I have friends that claim they want a pig, I invite them over to meet mine. That usually changes their mind.

The promises I made my pig are simple. She will always have a home. I will always love her regardless of how big she gets or how she acts. I will always attempt to be on time with meals. She will always be special to me. If I move, she will move with me. If she is sick, I will do my best to make her well. If she needs a vet, I will call one to come see her. If she needs anything, I will work harder to provide it for her. If she doesn't like someone, they are not welcome in my home. If someone hurts my pig, I will be their worst nightmare. She will always be treated as if I gave birth to her, like one of my kids. If you do these things for your child, you should do them for your pig. Click here to read our blog about promises you should have made to your pig. If you cannot make these basic promises, you should reconsider getting a pig to begin with.

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Articles to read BEFORE you add a mini pig to your family

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All information was collected and/or written by the creators of the website unless otherwise noted. If you have any questions or would like to reach out to us, please email us at minipiginfo@gmail.com or via our Facebook page by clicking here. Feel free to share the links to the website, that is why it was created. This website does NOT take the place of your veterinarian's advice. Please seek emergency veterinarian care if your pig is sick or injured!!